We headed off to play at our good pal Trooper's 45th birthday party at the weekend. Twas a lovely venue in a rented field near Newton abbot in Devon. There were about 100 people, a rig, a barn and a few bands including ourselves and IT. It must have been too reserved because we had a visit from the local busy bodies intent on livening things up a bit. They weren't happy with the rig and made us take it down and pack up any ability for amplified music. They slapped a section 63 on us and headed away. So there we were in a field and not able to play. Things were a bit quite so we set up a stereo running from a 12 volt battery and continued with our merriment. However this apparently was not allowed under the section 63. The busy boys arrived again only this time they brought with them about 30 riot cops. They blocked off the barn and confiscated a small amp. When people were understandably annoyed at this obvious intimidation it all kicked off. The riot cops took out their battons and started swinging in the only way they know how. Small children had to be rescued from the middle of the scuffle as the sat crying in the rain. the cops didn't care much for the safety of our innocent because they would one day grow up and take the reigns of our never ending battle with the state. There were many injuries but luckily nothing serious. The riot police were forced back off the land and left having made no arrests. One of the first times I've seen a battle like this without any arrests. Seems a bit strange or maybe it was just a realisation on their behalf that if any of this went to court then the cops would be screwed. The farmer who owned the land joined us in forcing them back.

Is nothing new people and it will happen again and again but only as long as we keep accepting it. I long for the day that we battle again on a level playing ground. One where none of us are tooled up, no shields and no battons, armed only with our passion and our right to fight for our way of life. A big positive that came out of the night was the realistion that they saw us as a threat. This gives us hope and the will to carry on.

Until the next time boys

ACAB